For saying he’s rich, Cedric Lee arouses BIR’s curiosity

By: Tetch Torres-Tupas - 10 years ago

Cedric Lee INQUIRER LIFESTYLE FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has already started investigating Cedric Lee, one of the respondents in the mauling of actor Vhong Navarro, to see if he is paying taxes honestly.

“It is natural for us to look into it because like we said anytime there is a controversy, we look at the tax compliance because it says a lot about the character of the person whether they comply with laws including tax laws,” BIR Commissioner Kim Henares told reporters Thursday.

The BIR’s probe was an offshoot of Lee’s public admission that he is rich and he owns several businesses. Lee is one of the incorporators of Waste Management Incorporated. He is reportedly engaged in mining, construction and land reclamation.

“The reason why we said we are looking into Cedric Lee is because he mentioned that he is a reputable businessman, he owns all these companies. So, we have to satisfy our curiosity or if there is a suspicion, we have to satisfy that,” Henares said.

Henares added that aside from Lee’s public admission of his wealth, they learned that one of Lee’s business partner is Tyrone Ong, President of Mandaluyong City-based Enviroaire Inc. ,who was slapped with a case for P184-million tax evasion in 2012.

Enviroaire has supplied the Philippine National Police (PNP) with motor equipment and the emission testing machines.

Currently, Ong is at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame after ordered arrested by the Sandiganbayan for violation of the anti-graft law and malversation over the questionable repair and maintenance of V-150 armored vehicles worth P385.48 million in 2007.